Zombie's journey with breast cancer

[IamtheZombie]

The thread that Val started has now been moved to General Health. www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/2016081-Zombie-needs-her-limbs-holding?msgid=46439734

Please keep posting there if you wish.

As most of you know, I'm having my second mastectomy on Thursday. I will almost certainly need to have more chemotherapy.

This is my thread for those who wish to walk beside me on my journey.

Hope you have had a very restful day today Zombie and glad to see that the infection seems to be abating, maybe it will be gone altogether by the morning, I hope so. Do continue to rest if its possible, I'm sure you find it difficult doing nothing, but for now , take it easy.

Glad to hear that the antibiotics have kicked in, and hope you have had a restful day today.
It's a fine line between doing too much and getting over tired, and doing things that will lift your spirit and boost your morale

Sweet dreams.

Hope you are doing ok Zombie and had a good weekend. Good but restful !

Evening.

Sorry I've not been around but I've been trying to take it easy so not a lot to report.

I went to the Breast Clinic on Friday morning and had Serena drained again. Only 90ml this time so definitely heading in the right direction. They told me to just turn up at the clinic at 9.00am this Friday and they'll fit me in. My surgeon and breast care nurse think my MRI results may be ready to be considered at the Multi Disciplinary Team meeting tomorrow. If so, they will be able to tell me on Friday (in addition to draining Serena again).

I did absolutely nothing but rest and relax on Saturday.

Yesterday I went to my niece's house. We then went on to her mum and step-dad's house for a birthday BBQ (she'll be 33 tomorrow). We were so lucky with the weather. Heavy rain had been predicted but we escaped all that and were able to be outside all afternoon. It was fabulous and I even got this photo of the Red Arrows flying over their house! We may have been very drunk by the time we got back to her house and zonked out very quickly.

This morning she took me back to pick up my car. I then went and had my hair cut. Short. Very, very short. I'll get some pics tomorrow. Then it was home and nap time. Long nap time.

I may go to the cinema tomorrow and see Malificent. I may go again on Friday to see Belle. I'll see how it goes.

Otherwise this week is echocardiogram at 9.00am on Thursday, Breast Clinic at 9.00am on Friday and GP surgery for pre-chemo bloods to be drawn at 11.00am.

Then first cycle of Docetaxel next Monday. Suddenly this all seems very real.

Zombie, the red arrows have been parked at our local airport this weekend as their base, it's about ten minutes from where I live. Unfortunately me and dh went away for sat night so didn't see them taking off or anything, I love them. Sounds like you have a few things lined up this week , glad there is less to drain now, that has to be for the good. I suppose in one way it will be good to get on with your treatment, but I'm sure in another way you wish it wasn't coming.

mummy, are we neighbours??? I assume they were based at Cosford. I'd love to meet you if we are in fact that close.

They were just here for the weekend Zombie . I live where one of the pilots died in his plane in 2011, in Dorset

Good news about Serena and pleased to hear you've been resting.

The sooner your cycles start, the sooner they'll finish.

Thinking of you as always.

Ah. I know your part of the world fairly well, mummy. Very nice.

You should be proud of me, Bee. Yesterday I did precisely nothing but rest. Today I will do a few loads of laundry but little else.

Plans for Friday morning have changed a bit. I received an appointment letter for the Breast Clinic at 11.20am. I've cancelled my 11.00am appointment at the GP surgery to have my bloods drawn and will get that done at the hospital instead.

I hope you are relaxing and enjoying the surprisingly good weather.

I am indeed, Chaz. Three loads of laundry done and on the line. Windows and doors open. Bread baking.

Sunshine and fresh bread. That sounds lovely.

Have you been here for a holidayZombie ? I am very lucky to live here but always take the beautiful seaside for granted I'm afraid. Seems like you have still been busy ! Homemade bread sounds delicious.i hope you can rest up at the weekend ready for your treatment on Monday. I believe you have a friend coming to stay to help you through ?

That's my echocardiogram done and dusted. I'm always fascinated watching the monitor.

I've actually spent quite a bit of time there, mummy. When I was 17 I lived with a host family in WM for 4 weeks and went to classes in both B and P. 10 -15 years ago I was there regularly for work. Then when TwatH and I started seeing each other I was there every 3rd weekend as he lived in B.

Yes, my friend Sally is coming down on Sunday and will stay with me for a week. I've added her to my car insurance so she can drive if I'm unable to do so. We're also taking all 3 cats to the vet on Tuesday morning to get them checked over and their jabs up to date. They will NOT be amused.

Other than the hospital again tomorrow morning, I've nothing on until Monday when I go for my first Docetaxel infusion. I hope we keep the nice weather so I can sit in the garden.

Here's hoping the weather is glorious all weekend for you...

So you won't be inside glued to the World Cup then?

Just found out mum will need 12 weeks of chemo, one a week!

That seems pretty intense, no?

Hope you and Sally have a lovely week x

I was thinking that over the years I've seen bits of myself I should never have seen on hospital monitors e.g. echocardiagram, endoscopy and even a colposcopy - its fascinating but slightly offputting that I have seen my own cervix . I had an MRI of my brain checking for a pituitary tumour (luckily none found) and so when my DC suggest I am brainless I pull out the pictures and remind them that I actually have images that prove I have one no matter what they think!

It sounds great that Sally will be there to support you too. I hope the cats get over their trauma quickly.

Barbie, there are literally dozens of different chemo drugs and combinations of chemo drugs used to treast Breast Cancer. Your mum's doctors will have chosen the regime that will give her the best chance taking into account everything they learned about her cancer. It's common for many drugs to be given on a 3 week cycle but there are others that are given once a week.

Chaz, I've now seen my heart 5 times, my cervix at least 6 times and the inside of my colon once. I can't NOT look at the monitor.

Hope tomorrow will go ok Zombie. Will be nice for you to have your friend around to give you support and to keep her eye on you !

Just catching up and bringing zombie

Bastard cancer

Good luck for tomorrow

I'm glad things are being ticked off the list, they seem to come round quickly.

Hoping for a sunny week-end, sending and for you and Sally and a snuggle for ZombieCats.

Hope this morning went OK.

How'd it go zombie?

OK. Deep breath.

The MRI confirmed that the area on my liver they were worried about is from the breast cancer. The MRI also revealed another very small area nearby is also from the breast cancer.

This means that I am technically Stage 4 so incurable. However there is hope.

The plan is to do the 6 cycles of Docetaxel as scheduled. They will scan me periodically to see if the liver tumours are shrinking. Once I have completed all the chemo (which should be at the end of September) there will still be the option to refer me to Birmingham for an operation to resect the affected area.

For now it's just a waiting game.

I realise some of you may want to phone me. Could you please just give me a couple of days to get my head around this? It was the news I was expecting but having it confirmed is still a bit of a shock.

On the bright side, they could only milk Serena for 80ml this week.

Oh Zombie that is truly shitty news. Take all the time you need. There will always be support for you on MN. On a slightly related note I have resigned from my job and should have time on my hands by October! If there is anything I can do then please pm me. (I live a bit down the M5 from sunny Brum!)
Thinking of you my lovely. xxxx

Fuck fuck fuck.

Thinking of you

Stupid fucking cancer

It's not going to beat our Zombie. No sir.

I wish I knew what to say and had magic words. But I don't. I have stupid rambles instead.

Meadows and gin (although autocorrect wanted gin to be guns, autocorrect has anger issues), and wine and sunshine and peace is always here for you.

Xxx